Harping on? Really? Bullshit. “And?”

“And you’re right.” She picked up his hand and traced the backs of his fingers. “We need to reconnect sexually because it is a big part of who we were together.”

“Were?”

“Yes, were. We have to take the past into account to go forward. And I realized something else today.”

Why wouldn’t she look at him? “What’s that?”

“Things are starting out between us exactly the same way they did last time. We—I—need to break the cycle.”

“Amery, I’m lost.”

Her gaze collided with his. “Last night you went down on me. Yes, it was as great as it’s always been. So that is the same type of scene as when you poured candle wax on me and got me off with your hand.”

“That’s not the same thing at all. And if you’re looking to even the score—although god knows I’m not keeping track—I’ll drop my pants and you can blow me right here, right now.”

She dropped his hand so fast it smacked into the countertop. Then she stepped back and glared at him. “Omigod. Are you even listening to me?”

Shit. “I’m trying, but apparently we’re having a miscommunication. Tell me exactly what you want from me.”

“I want to tie your hands, blindfold you, drip wax on your chest, and then jack you off.”

Ronin spit lemonade halfway across the kitchen.

Then an evil laugh accompanied the knowing twist of her lips. “Surprised, Master Black?”

“Yes, and I hope like hell you’re joking.”

“I am not joking. You expect me to jump right back into your bed like nothing ever went wrong between us. Plus you demand that I trust you, and I always have. In bed and out and whenever you bind me. So I want you to show me that same level of trust.”

Fuck. The woman was serious. And there wasn’t any way he could say no. He could try to play the injury card . . . But one glimpse into those determined blue eyes of hers and he knew he was totally f**ked.

Totally. Fucked.

Except . . .

“All right. I’ll agree to prove my trust in you, but I have a couple stipulations.”

“Of course you do,” she muttered. “Fine. Name them.”

Ronin rose from the chair and started toward her. “First, you truss me up, tease me with wax, and get me off in my practice room.”

“Okay.”

Did the woman have any idea how much it turned him on when she backed away from him with that sexual fire in her eyes? “You are sweet sin, and I cannot wait to get my f**king hands on you again.”

“Is that a stipulation?”

“Yes. Feeding this craving I have for you won’t be a one-time thing. After we break the ice that’s settled between us, I can f**k you anytime I want.”

“Or I can f**k you anytime I want,” she retorted.

“Fair enough.” He caged her against the wall and placed an openmouthed kiss on the sweet spot on her neck. “You let me bind you again. Starting tomorrow night.”

When she trembled, he knew she’d missed that intimate connection as much as he had.

“I look forward to your rope tricks,” she whispered against his throat. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes.” His heart rate quadrupled, but his fear wasn’t holding him back this time. Ronin nudged her chin up and gazed into her beautiful eyes. “You let me tell you that I—”

Lightning fast, her fingers pressed against his lips, stopping the flow of words. “You don’t have to—”

Equally fast, he pulled her hand away. “Yes, I do, and it is a stipulation or this is a no-go, understand?”

She nodded.

He captured her face in his hands so she couldn’t look away. “Amery, I love you. I’ve been in love with you since the moment you kissed my bloodied hands and asked me to put them on you. I don’t know why you haven’t let me say it to you whenever I’ve tried to in the last week, but you need to know before you let me make love to you again that I do love you.”

“Okay.”

Okay? That was it? That was all he got from her?

This is not about how she feels; it’s about you manning up and telling her how you feel.

Then Amery smashed her mouth to his and kissed him with the unbridled passion he’d missed.

She put her hand on his chest and pushed, breaking the kiss. “You . . . Damn. You completely fried my circuits.”

“Just imagine how mindless I’ll make you when I’m inside you.”

“I can’t wait. But first I need to know where you keep your candles.”

Ronin stepped back. “We’re doing this right now?”

“You have other plans?”

“Now that you mention it, I think I’m out of candles.”

“No problem. The citronella ones from the pool area worked on me. Guess it’d be poetic—or would that be ironic?—if I used one on you.”

“Maybe I have birthday cake candles somewhere in the kitchen.”

Amery raised both eyebrows. “Birthday cake candles? You aren’t afraid of a little burning-hot pain, are you, Master Black?”

“No,” he scoffed. “Just trying to improvise. Isn’t there a red candle in the guest bedroom?”

A horrified look crossed her face.

“What?”

“Red wax would look too much like blood, and I’ve seen enough of your blood to last me a lifetime.” She swallowed hard. “Red wouldn’t be sexy at all—”